Practice
Flash Anzan vs Mental Arithmetic: Which Should You Practise?
By HumanCalc · Published · 3 min read
Choose Flash Anzan when you want to add a sequence as it appears. Choose Mental Arithmetic when you want to solve an expression with addition, subtraction, multiplication or division. Both are free browser games, but they ask you to do different things.
The best starting choice is the one whose rule you understand and whose difficulty lets you complete a round. You can try both without creating an account.
Compare the actual tasks
| Feature | Flash Anzan | Mental Arithmetic |
|---|---|---|
| What you see | Numbers appear one at a time | An expression to solve |
| Core operation | Add to a running total | Follow the expression's operations |
| Example | 3, 5, 2 → total 10 | 8 + 3 × 4 → answer 20 |
| Difficulty | 15 levels | 8 levels |
| Pressure | Display time and sequence length | Time to submit each answer |
| Account needed | No | No |
Start with Flash Anzan for sequential addition
Use Flash Anzan if your immediate goal is to keep a sum going while new numbers arrive. Start with three single-digit values. When a number disappears, the current total is the piece of information you need to keep; the old sequence can be discarded.
Sequence: 7 → 4 → 6
- Keep 7.
- Add 4: the current total is 11.
- Add 6: the final total is 17.
Enter 17, not the last adjacent pair's sum of 10.
Start with Mental Arithmetic for expressions
Use Mental Arithmetic if you want variety across the four basic operations. Early questions are short. Later expressions can contain parentheses and multiple steps, so identifying the calculation order matters as well as remembering intermediate results.
Expression: (12 + 8) ÷ 4
- Calculate the parentheses: 12 + 8 = 20.
- Divide the result by 4: 20 ÷ 4 = 5.
Enter 5.
Serial Addition has a different rule again
In Serial Addition, add the new number to the previous number, not to a running total. For 3, 5, 2, Flash Anzan ends at 10. Serial Addition asks for 8 and then 7. If you switch games, remind yourself which rule is active before the first sequence.
Compare progress within one game
Flash Anzan level 5 and Mental Arithmetic level 5 are not equivalent standards. Each game uses its own settings and scoring. Compare accuracy at matching settings within the same game, and choose your next session based on the type of mistake you want to practise.
